ISLAMABAD: Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Friday announced Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) would launch three to four weekly flights to Manchester in the United Kingdom, saying the revival of the national carrier had been among the government’s top priorities.
Britain removed Pakistan from its Air Safety List earlier this year, clearing the way for Pakistani carriers to seek permits to operate in the UK.
Pakistani airlines were barred from flying to Europe and Britain after a 2020 PIA Airbus A320 crash in Karachi killed nearly 100 people and led to controversial claims about widespread irregularities in pilot licensing.
European regulators lifted their suspension last November after due diligence, enabling PIA to resume operations to Paris in January.
“As you know, just a few months ago, by the grace of God, the UK ... lifted its ban [on PIA flights],” Dar told reporters at a news conference.
